Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-12-29
POSSIBLE MURDER.
WILLIAM COYNB LODGED BEHIND THE
BARS IN MARTINS FERRY.
he is Suspicionsd Very Strongly Of Having Poisoned
His Wife Who Was Lying Sick
WithTyphOid Fever

His Wife, Who Was Lying Sick
WithTyphOid Fever
William Coyne is now confined in the
Martins Ferry Jail, charged With the muir
der of his wife by means Of poison. A
short souib concerning the affair appeared
in yesterday 8 REGISTER, to the effect that
the police were on the lookout for COyne,
who had left the town rather unceremoni-
ously. The facts are about as follows:
Coyne is large, raw-boned Irishmau,
standing, probably, five feet ten inches in
height and weighing 175 pounds. He has
a rather intelligent face, though not at all
progressing, and wears short, black side
whiskers and small chin beard. He came
70 Martins Ferry from Bridgeport, where
he was we'll known as miser who for the
sake of saving the pennies denied himself
and family the common necessaries OF life.
He is supposed to be worth about four
thousand dollars, which is loaned out at
intere. and in such a manner that the
assessors have always been unable to get at
it for taxation. He has been in Martins
Ferry something over a year and has lived
over Thomas FitZsimmon's saloon on FIRST
street. He has been employed by Con
tractor Rumsey on the water works, and
has continued his misery ways.
About three weeks ago Mrs. Coyne, who
Was not strong woman at best, and who
has suffered much abuse at her husbands
hands, was taken sick with typhoid fever.
DR.. Nj. S. Heinerman was called TO attend
her, but could do but little for her, on ac-
count of the miserable bed upon which
she was forced to lie, and the general
squalid surroundings and lack of proper
attention and nursing.
On Thursday last Mrs Coyne's condi-
ton was so critical that her brothers
Charles and John O'CoDner, two pros
porous farmers from near Claysville, Pa,
came to see her. They insisted that her
surroundings were unfit for a sick person,
and came to Wheeling 10 arrange to have
her placed in the Hospital under the care
of competent nurse. When they
left her she was able to sit
up in bed and appeared to be Oh
the mend. When they returned the next
day she was unconscious and had been for
some time. Dr. Heinerman had called in
the absence of the Messrs. O'Conneriand at
once asserted that the patient had taken
something else beside the medicine pre-
scribed. He accused COyne of having poi
soned her, and several times remarked to
him that it would go hard with him if she
died. She had had no nurse except Coyne,
and an occasional visit from Mrs. Fltz-
simmons who lives in the lower story Of
the same house. During the absence of
Mrs. Coyne's brothers in Wheeling, Mrs.
Fitzsimmons went up stairs and saw Coyne
giving his wife something out Of glass,
which she appeared not TO like and which
COyGe asserted was toddy.
The woman, however, rallied, aud on
Sunday was able to sit up in bed. On
Tuesday she again became suddenly I'M
conscious, and the Doctor in charge of the
case again accused COyne Of being able to
tell what was the matter, Ia the evening
Coyne remarked to his hrOther-in-law that
he did lot care TO be arrested and asserted
that he was going to leave, saying that
DR.. Hiuerman'S threats uf trouble scared
him. he took his valise, a pair of boots
and a cane and start away. The police
were nj once notified OF his departure and
the circumstances. Search was made for
him, but TO 40 avail,
Yesterday morning nt eleven o'clock the
woman died under the most sad Circum-
stances, alone on o bed whose Stats had
bruised her body blue from hips to shcul-
ders, clq,s up to a scanty coal Ire, in a
room whose furniture could all DE carried
by one strong man. No one WA near ex-
cent her two little boys, and they could
not speak TO her because OF tae terror
deaths pre- enCe Inspired in them. Mrs.
FitzsimmOns was informed, and she III
turn managed after considerable effort to
find anothSr woman to assist in preparing
the corpse for the undertaken. The abi0-
men of the dead woman Swelled To an Gb
normal size after death, and strengthened
the already prevalent suspicion that she
had been dealt with fOully.
After noon the Martins Ferry officers
learned that Coyne had been seen III North
Wheeling, and they at once went over and
detained him. Chief of Police Smith went
up and placed Coyne under arrest, but he
agreed to 20 across the river with the Ohio
officers. lie was not informed OF his witc's
death till he was taken into tie room
where she lay a corpse, 1t is stated that
his face did not change its expression in the
least. lie was taken to Jail and locked mp
in cell number two and the coroner called
Tor from Bellaire. Ii was later learned that
there is no coroner in Belmont county, Ow-
ing to the man recently elected failing TO
qualify. Mayor Keller will OttiCjate at the
inquest to-day.
Coyne was seen in his cell last night
AID stated that he came to this country
from ireland in 1864, and had married
Miss Theresa O'COnner about sixteen years
ago. She was from the vicinity Of Claws
vile, Pa, and comes Of good family. lie
is the father of two children, Charles and
Eddie, the former thirteen aid the lsiter
eleven years old. He expresses the utmost
contempt for the charge upon which he is
held and becomes angry when his sup
posed riches are mentioned.
His two boys are fine fellows, and pos
sess bright, intelligent faces, though their
clothing would admit them 10 tue rarks OF
the rag mullins Mrs CoyDe will be |
taken to Claysvillo for burial ~ soon Us
the inquest is held.